Raildogs

by Rejean Giguere

  They said the drug started killing you from the inside of the body at the injection sites and your flesh started to die from gangrene. These addicts were rotting from the inside out. When the disease finally hit the outside skin there was nothing left underneath and you could see right into the body. When the stuff was made in labs they took out the hard metals and left pure stuff behind. The problem was the homemade stuff still had the garbage and corrosive stuff inside because the street producers didn’t have the labs and proper equipment to get it out. Then these guys shoot the crap right into their veins.

  One of the men had an exposed sore on his arm, an open hole ran from his wrist to his elbow. Danny stared at the exposed bones surround by slabs of skin hanging off the dying area.

  He felt light headed, he wasn’t sure he could look much longer. He actually reached out to grip the doorframe for balance.

  “Yeah, it’s Krokodile. Have a good look kid. Learn a lesson.” The guy with no forearm answered his question.

  Danny had no doubts. He’d learned something. Humans were sick. How could you do that to your body when you could see what it was doing? Shit. They said that in Russia most people starting on the drug were dead within two years. He was close to hyperventilating and not sure where to look next.

  The third guy with the blanket helped him decide as he pulled back the cover to expose his leg. Danny yelled out as he jumped in shock, “Holy fuck!”

  Bart heard him and came running down the hallway. He stopped by the door and looked in around his buddy.

  “What the fuck is going on here?” Bart looked around, “I said. What the fuck is going on?”

  Danny took a second to explain how Krokodile was made and what it did to the users.

  Bart kept his hand on the doorsill as he was locked in a stare he couldn’t seem to break.

  These guys were walking zombies. What other name was there for it? They were half dead. Alive and dead at the same time. Bart looked like his stomach and brain weren’t co-operating.

  “Sorry to bother you man.” Bart stumbled away from the door swallowing hard then taking a long haul from his beer. Danny backed up and nodded to the three guys before he turned to follow. Had he really just seen that?

  When Bart looked back, Danny swigged the rest of his beer and nodded towards the door. He was getting out of this place as soon as he could. What a crazy nuthouse. You could get killed in more ways than one in this world.

  Bart thanked the guys in the front room for the stuff, and shook the appreciative drunk’s hand again, and the two of them stepped outside.

  The fresh air helped Danny clear his head as they started walking along the tracks.

  As they watched a slow moving train leaving the yard, Danny noticed Bart’s arm raised in the air, and realized he was waving at someone on the train.

  *****

  Amarillo, Texas

  Maria had finally fallen asleep. Raul leaned out and watched the yard go by as he let the night breeze wash over his face. They were moving slow, almost out of town.

  He was getting close to home. He could feel it in the hot dry air. It smelled like home. From Amarillo it would be a straight run down to El Paso and the border. Raul was feeling more confident the closer he got. He was getting into his old stomping grounds.

  He should call ahead, but he preferred keeping things to himself as long as possible, that was how you stayed alive. He decided he would call from El Paso and get someone to pick them up. Things were going okay so far and Maria was holding up surprisingly well.

  The trip was a pain in the ass for her, but as far as he was concerned she was showing her worth. Obviously she could suck it up and do it the hard way if it came to that. He knew he was going to give her the good life, but he liked knowing she could cope if necessary.

  The train banged and rattled over some kind of bump. Then, as he stood there watching, the train went through an intersection, clanging over the other rails.

  If he’d been sitting down he wouldn’t have seen them. He froze as he stared at a pair of young guys standing alongside another set of rails. They watched the train go by. One of them seemed to notice him. So for some reason he raised his hand in salute as he drifted by. An arm lifted in response and held there. Raul watched them until they were out of sight.

  Finally the train started to pick up speed as the edge of town appeared. There were a lot of people around the tracks these days. He smiled as he looked up at the stars. “Mexico, here I come.”

  *****

  Las Vegas, Nevada

  No one would’ve noticed the dark figure in the alleyway. Standing patiently in the shadows he blended in while waiting for the woman to arrive. He’d selected her carefully on an earlier scouting trip. She was desperate and she was disposable.

  The smell of the alley was bad. Vegas was all shine and glitter on the main street, but don’t step into the shadows or walk along the back alleys.

  Before she entered, the woman hesitated at the alley entrance. When she was close to his hiding place he stepped out of the shadows, making her jump.

  “It’s okay, it’s me.” He tried to ease her concern.

  “Why we have to meet here? Christ, it’s disgusting.” The woman was attractive, new to the game and yet to show the effects of years on the street.

  “You want this money?” He pulled an envelope from inside his jacket.

  That changed her tune, quickly she became more interested and willing to listen.

  “Okay then, this is what I need you to do.”

  *****

  Topeka, Kansas

  Bill contemplated the detective’s disorganized desk. He wasn’t going to visit the morgue this time, been there and done that with burn victims. He waited for the file folder to land on the desk. He’d asked ahead of time for pictures of the tattoo. He leaned back and studied the photo. Obviously, he had another one.

  The three was a little larger than the other numbers he’d seen, but it was just as crudely done. This gang was either the most unlucky group of guys, or they were in some kind of war. From Bill’s point of view it appeared they were losing.

  He spent the better part of an hour bringing the detective up to speed. He didn’t have much, but fed him everything he knew. “I’d just like a live body to talk to. These corpses aren’t helping much.”

  “You still think you can find her?” The cop asked with a careful tone.

  Bill looked down at his hands that were spread palms up on his knees. “No I don’t,” his eyes watered a little. “But I have to keep trying.”

  “Okay, what next?”

  “What do you know about the bodies?” He didn’t know exactly what he needed, so he would have to settle for collecting as much information as possible and sorting through it later.

  “Not much. Like I told you, it was ugly. The papers managed to grab a photo of the only guy who wasn’t too burnt. We got a call from family. They ID’d the vic as Douglas J. Rackman.”

  “So we’ve got names for two out of the seven guys I’ve seen in the last couple days. Not good, but something.” He took a second to gather his thoughts. While on the plane Bill had been thinking hard about those five who burned in the boxcar. What next? “Can you get me access to a computer, or someone to do some searches for me?”

  “Sure.”

  Standing behind the department’s civilian clerk, Bill and the detective watched her do a variety of searches. He had an idea, “Can you run Rackman’s name?”

  “We already did that,” the detective answered, “he’s got a short record from way back, but not much else.”

  “Look for family members and known associates.” He waited for the woman to finish the search. They all scanned the list that appeared.

  Bill pointed at the screen, “There we go. He’s got a brother, Bobby. Run him please.”

  The screen changed again and a picture of Bobby Rackman appeared. He didn’t have much of a record either, mostly stuff from the past and one arrest for
aggravated assault three years ago. Bingo.

  Any arrests in the last fifteen years had to include photos of tattoos. “Check the brother for tattoos.”

  Three. Crossed axes on his right shoulder. Twisted barbwire around the left bicep and more importantly, a number four on the inside of his left wrist. “Blow up the wrist shot if you can.”

  The picture got bigger, but the tattoo didn’t look any better. Christ, did they make them with the sharp end of a coat hanger? The thing was ugly, but the number was clear.

  His blood was pumping now. He was on the trail. The juices were flowing and he felt like he was catching up for the first time. Now he should be able to get ahead of the game. This Bobby was in danger. He had to be one of the targets. If the numbers started at one he obviously was high up in the gang.

  That last arrest had been in Vegas, “He still live in Vegas?”

  A minute later, and on another website, the woman had his answer. “Says here he has a house there. So I expect that yes, he is there.”

  “You better get on the phone to someone down there,” Bill told the detective. “I’m heading to the airport. This is my chance to get ahead of it.”

  “Good luck Bill.”

  *****

  Las Vegas, Nevada

  “Yes sir!” Bobby slapped the table. The dealer busted and he scored on all three hands he had been playing. Tonight he couldn’t miss. From the looks of the pile of chips sitting in front of him, he was up an easy five grand.

  While the dealer reshuffled the cards he looked around and there she was again. To his surprise she was leaning against the bar, staring his way. Then she smiled and turned slightly to show off some ass. And what an ass it was.

  He had noticed her floating past just out of his line of vision while he’d been playing earlier. Last time he’d looked up to see her walk away into the crowd, this time she was standing still.

  Maybe this time she was looking him over. Bobby liked it. She arched her back a little. Showing off now. She was definitely his type. Her short red halter dress was nice and tight, the ties behind her neck left most of her back bare and showed lots of cleavage in the front.

  He wasn’t admiring the dress, his eyes were just rolling over the curves that went on forever. She was nice rolling hills from the calves, up the thighs, across the ass and into the hollow of her back.

  Pushing some chips into the pot, he looked back up to find she wasn’t standing at the bar anymore. Damn. That was the one. He could feel it. He looked around a bit but didn’t see her. He lost the hand and refocused on the cards again.

  At some point he’d had enough. Even when you’re winning, if you do it enough, you can get tired of it. Just over seven grand was a nice night. Gathering up his chips, he stood up to leave, stretching a kink out of his back. As he turned he came face to face with the woman.

  There she was, inches away. She must have been standing behind him, watching over his shoulder. Bobby felt a charge run through him. She wanted it as much as he did, he could tell by the glaze in her eyes. Her perfume reminded him of somewhere or something captivating he couldn’t place.

  “Hey baby, what’s your name?” He flashed his best Irish smile and tilted his head sideways.

  “Roxy.”

  Bobby put his arm around the hot piece, guiding her away from the table. The bar would be better. He ordered a couple drinks each and slammed the first one back.

  “Am I ever glad I ran into you tonight. What’s your plans?”

  She raised her eyebrows and moved in a little closer. “I’m looking to find me a stud and get the hell out of this place.”

  Bobby had no problem with her rubbing against him. He loved it when it happened so easy. It wasn’t the first time. He just let them know his intentions and they either went with it or didn’t. “Well, I say we finish these drinks and get the hell out of here.”

  They walked arm in arm under the brilliant lights that turned the strip into permanent daylight. His hand riding on a rounded firm back end gave a little squeeze. He laughed to himself, he had this cat by the ass.

  “Where we going?” The woman looked up.

  “My place baby, that alright?” Bobby was all one-track mind at this point.

  “It’s nice outside tonight. We should do something wild.” There was a look of mischief on her face.

  “Where we going sexy?” He was intrigued and excited at the same time.

  She seemed to ponder, then excitement flashed across her face, “I like trains. Can we find some trains?”

  Bobby couldn’t believe it. Trains? Shit, he knew them inside out. “Sure baby, this way.”

  At the next corner they made a left and headed to his old stomping grounds, the freight yards.

  Chapter 11

  El Paso, Texas

  Raul leaned out the side of the grain car, trying to see what was ahead of the train. It had been slowing down steadily for the last ten minutes. He was on full alert as they entered the outskirts of El Paso. Even though he was close to home, this was the heavy zone. He and Maria would encounter a lot more border patrols and police from here on in.

  He wasn’t really worried, he had well-established routes across the border. Crossing here was an option, but he knew the layout of the border better closer to Arizona and it was a quick train ride west to get there.

  Having been through here before, he knew they needed to get off on this side of town and he directed Maria to get her stuff together. If they were jumping off, it had to be done before the train stopped.

  Maria had everything together except the large tarp, “What do I do with this?”

  “Tuck it under the grating, someone else will find it. We’re almost there.”

  When he spotted the trains parked on the siding, he knew they were at the yard. He checked either side of the car and picked the side with gravel dissolving into grass instead of the wide patch of gravel roadway on the other side.

  “Come on Maria, jump here.” He grabbed her arm and helped her down on the metal steps beside him.

  “I can’t jump off the train, its still moving.” Maria pulled back against his pressure on her arm.

  Raul couldn’t debate it. Jesus, woman. He pulled a last time and she relented, stepping down just in time for Raul to push her off the moving train.

  Maria shrieked as she left the platform. Then her feet hit the ground, and since she wasn’t ready, both feet bent at the ankles and she fell forward. Her body made it halfway across the gravel and onto the grass. She slammed down hard and bounced into a roll.

  Raul jumped with the bag, his feet moving before they hit the ground. He stumbled slightly but his feet caught up to his momentum and he was suddenly running. He put the brakes on and headed back towards Maria as she stopped rolling. Reaching down, he grabbed her by the arms and pulled her to her feet.

  “You pushed me.” Maria sounded hurt as she rubbed her shoulder.

  “I was just helping you take the first step. We didn’t have time.”

  “You pushed me off the damned train.” She stood there with her arms crossed, her bottom lip stuck out. She looked pissed.

  Raul threw the bag over his shoulder and curved his arm around Maria’s waist, urging her forward. “Okay sexy. Sorry I was so rough. Let’s get out of here.”

  Reluctantly she started to walk with him. “Where are we? Where are we going now?”

  “We’re almost there baby, one more small train ride and we cross into Mexico.”

  He felt her stiffen under his arm, she wasn’t impressed with another train ride. To be honest, he wasn’t either, but that’s the way it was. Raul led her around behind an abandoned warehouse as he angled along the side of the yard, looking for the westbound tracks.

  Finally he came to a long train pointed in the right direction. These trains on the southern rails were long. There weren’t many stops between Florida, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona so the trains that took the route were heavily loaded, and with the land mostly fla
t, the rail companies could extend the number of cars.

  Raul started walking west, looking for the right car to get on. There were boxcars ahead that would be better than the storage containers they were currently walking past. “Come on Maria, just a little farther. Those boxcars up there will be comfortable to sit in.

  *****

  Las Vegas, Nevada

  Bobby walked alongside the train, pulling Roxy by the hand he gently pinned her against the side of the car.

  “No. Not here. I want somewhere nice.” She grinned up at him before pushing him off and heading further down the track.

  Bobby found a few more spots, but the broad didn’t like them either. It was like she was looking for something. He didn’t know he was right. The large orange florescent x spray-painted on the building was the mark she was seeking.

  The woman turned from the odd artwork towards the train and saw an open boxcar. “This looks like a good spot big boy.” She leaned against the doorsill of the car.

  It was about time. He nestled up to her as she tilted her head back. Fuck, she smelled good. He lowered his lips to hers and ran his hands around her hips, gripping her ass through the tight red dress.

  She reached down and took his crotch in her hand, squeezing and running her fingers back and forth. She used her body to turn him until he was now leaning back against the car, the doorsill running across the middle of his back.

  Bobby wanted to get her up into the car, it would be a little more comfortable there, but she started to go down to her knees and he held off. She settled on the ground, opening his pants. Bobby was getting harder, “Yes baby, right there.”

  She didn’t answer, just reached in and took him out of his pants. Her touch felt electric and he felt himself spring further to attention. She stroked him with her hand before leaning forward to take him in her mouth.

  Bobby closed his eyes and leaned back, “Oh baby, I like that.” He concentrated on the feeling of her mouth. With his hands in her hair, he started to slowly rock back and forth against her. He moaned. It felt so good. He was about to moan a second time when he felt something slip around his neck and pull tight. He had a second to think of an ambush before his body reacted. He kicked forward, knocking the woman to the ground.